Constraints of Language, Creative Communication, and Perceptions of Creativity

Date of Graduation

Spring 2000

Degree

Master of Arts in Communication

Department

Communication

Committee Chair

Isabelle Bauman

Abstract

By utilizing the fundamental ideas of transmission theory and the social construction of reality the researcher examined the methods used by thirteen undergraduate students as they created speeches using one of four different constraints of language. Two research questions were explored in this process: (1) How do constraints of language effect a person's ability to communicate creatively? (2) How do constraints of language effect a person's perception of what is creative communication? Six graduate/faculty level observers were used to observe the speeches and evaluate the creativity of the speeches. The research model involved first round interviews of the undergraduate students and first round discussion groups involving the graduate level observers to determine their views on creativity and their experiences of public speaking. Second round discussion groups were then used to determine what processes were used by gthe undergraduates to create the speeches and which speeches the graduate level observers felt were more or less creative.

Subject Categories

Communication

Copyright

© Joshua Atkinson

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Dissertation/Thesis

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